63 



high-water mark. In March the heavy swell broke up ice three 

 feet thick, on which forty Eskimos were encamped. During 

 their retreat to a place of safety three of these people perished 

 from exposure or were drowned, while many more suffered from 

 frost-bite and exposure. All the survivors escaped with their 

 lives only, losing all their belongings on the ice. 



The total returns from the two stations on Cumberland gulf 

 comprise about three thousand sealskins, twenty tons seal oil, 

 two walrus skins, one bearskin and a few white-fox skins. The 

 value of the whole is less than the cost of the provisions con- 

 sumed. 



A large amount of valuable information concerning the 

 Eskimo living on the eastern part of Baffin island was obtained 

 from the Eev. Mr. Peck. It has been used in the preparation 

 of the article on the Eskimos. 



A number of interesting photographs, some of which are re- 

 produced in this report, were taken on the following day, when 

 a trip was made to the summit of the island. From that point 

 the northwestern part of the gulf could be seen blocked with ice 

 as far as and far beyond Kekerten. The brigantine had 

 drifted westward with the ice and now lay becalmed in it, about 

 twelve miles to the northward, with much ice between her and 

 Blacklead. ISTo special object could be gained by a trip to 

 Kekerten, and we therefore started, outward bound, early on the 

 afternoon of the 1st of September. Heavy ice was encountered 

 all the way to Cape Haven, which was reached on the morning 

 of the 3rd. The ship was stopped at the small islands about 

 four miles from the station, owing to the danger of entering 

 the harbour with so much heavy ice drifting about on the strong 

 tides. A boat load of natives came off to the ship about an hour 

 after our arrival, and reported that Captain Jackson had left 

 with two boats about ten days before on his way to Blacklead in 

 search of supplies, all the provisions at the station being ex- 



